Evening Brief: June 4, 2013

Tonight’s Evening Brief is brought to you by Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. CPA Canada was established by The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) and The Society of Management Accountants of Canada (CMA Canada) to represent and support all Canadian accounting bodies participating in unification of the profession under the CPA banner.

Evening.

Canada’s chief electoral officer, Marc Mayrand, has advised House Speaker Andrew Scheer that two Manitoba Conservative MPs should be suspended over questionable election expenses. Shelly Glover and James Bezan’s election expense returns contained problems that the MPs’ agents refused to rectify, leaving Mayrand no choice but to recommend suspension. The next move, says Elections Canada, is up to the Speaker.

Over in the Senate, the Red Chamber’s opposition Liberals are in no rush to approve Marjory LeBreton’s motion for a probe by the auditor general of Senate expenses. The probe, Senate Opposition Leader James Cowan said, is just a distraction from the Wright-Duffy affair; the Liberals refused to expedite the motion. Cue Stephen Harper: “Why is the Liberal party in the Senate resisting having the auditor general look at Senate expenses?”

Speaking of Duffy-Wright, senator and former PMO staffer Carolyn Stewart-Olsen denies she’s done anything to interfere with the report on Mike Duffy’s expenses — despite what’s been said about a closed-door committee meeting.

It looks like Telus will have to decide whether it’s worth going back to the drawing board on its bid to buy Mobilicity. Industry Minister Christian Paradis pulled the rug out from under the deal when he announced today that Telus would not be allowed to acquire Mobilicity’s wireless spectrum. The decision could hold a warning for Rogers as well. Sound confusing? This report lays it out.

Parliament’s newest member, Yvonne Jones, was welcomed to the House today.

Also, remember the brouhaha over hijabs in soccer? Well, now we’re on to turbans, and the Quebec Soccer Federation’s comment on where turban-wearing boys can play (their backyards) has gotten the province some international press. Bien fait!